If you are under 18 and cannot live at home, the local housing authority is
responsible for finding you a place to live. This will be a residential or foster
home if you are under 16. You can be fostered by relatives or family
friends.

Going into Care

There are two ways you can be looked after:

• "Being accommodated" is a voluntary arrangement between your family and the local authority. Your parent has parental responsibility and can take you home at any time, but you can refuse to go.
• Under a court order, social & health care (formerly social services) has parental responsibility but encourage your parents to stay actively involved in your life.

It’s your right to have your views about going into care considered by the court. Your guardian should advise
you about what’s in your best interest and help you find legal representation if needed. Independent advocates from Spurgeon’s could also help you have your say.

Crucial: to talk about being in care, email sourceworkers@fsmail.net. The Source Workers who reply are 15+ and either care leavers or in care themselves.

Being in Care

Young people in care have the legal right to:

• Be heard and treated as individuals taking into account their race, culture, sexuality, disability, religion, age and gender
• Have their wishes considered
• Attend meetings where plans for their future are discussed
• Talks with foster carers, Personal Advisors (PAs) or key workers, and to be informed if something they say needs to be passed on
• Support and advice from a Leaving Care PA from their 16th birthday
• Help learning the life skills they’ll need to live independently (only qualified ‘care leavers’ are entitled to this but anyone in care can ask for help, including referrals to other agencies)
• Remain in care until age 18
• PA support until age 21, or 24 if they are in higher education
• Financial support from social & health care based upon assessed need until age 18, unless they have another source of income (care leavers under 18 cannot claim benefits unless they are single parents or disabled)

Social and health care must honour these rights while you are in care or become a "care leaver".

> What's a Care Leaver?

A ‘care leaver’ is someone who is 16-21 who has left care at or after the age of 16. This includes 16 or 17 year olds
who are discharged from hospital or custody if they were in care immediately before admission. It's tricky, so ask your social worker or carer to help you work it out.

Leaving Care

Try to have regular contact with your Leaving Care PA. He or she will help you make a Pathway Plan that maps
out what you want to achieve after leaving care and who can help you. Talk to your PA about the types of
information and support you might need (see below for ideas).

Help Menu

Life skills such as:

• Managing money
• Shopping
• Preparing food
• Household maintenance, e.g. changing a plug
• Applying for benefits
• Registering for a GP or dentist

Social skills such as:

• Forming relationships with people/ organisations outside the care system
• Gaining confidence in yourself and your abilities

Support such as:

• Help applying for further/higher education
• Help finding work or training
• Vacation accommodation if you’re in higher education

Health information such as:

• General well-being
• Sexual health
• Advice on addictions

How much you keep in touch with your PA after leaving care is up to you. It’s okay to decide that you don’t want support, but consider talking it over with the Leaving Care Team first. They may be able to sort out why you don’t want contact. If you opt for no support you can change your mind any time before becoming 21. Just contact the Leaving Care Team who will be pleased to hear from you.